LED-based light bulb device

Abstract

An LED light bulb device including a bulb body, heat sink stems and LEDs. The bulb body defines an exterior and an interior region. The heat sink stems are discrete from one another and extend along the bulb body in a circumferentially spaced fashion. A first LED is directly supported by the first heat sink stem, and a second LED is directly supported by the second heat sink stem. Light from the LEDs is directed inwardly into the interior region and then outwardly from the interior region.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An LED light bulb device comprising:
 a bulb body defining an exterior of the LED light bulb device and an open interior region, wherein the bulb body defines a shape having a circumference; 
 a first elongated heat sink stem extending along the bulb body and open to the exterior; 
 a second elongated heat sink stem extending along the bulb body and open to the exterior; 
 wherein the first and second heat sink stems are discrete from one another and are circumferentially spaced from one another along the circumference of the bulb body; 
 a first plurality of LEDs directly supported by the first heat sink stem; 
 a second plurality of LEDs directly supported by the second heat sink stem; 
 wherein light from the first and second plurality of LEDs is directed inwardly into the interior region and then outwardly from the interior region. 
 
     
     
       2. The LED light bulb of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second heat sink stems are metal. 
     
     
       3. The LED light bulb of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap affixed to the bulb body. 
     
     
       4. The LED light bulb of  claim 3 , wherein the cap forms a threaded exterior surface configured to threadably engage a light socket. 
     
     
       5. The LED light bulb of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of LEDs are sealed relative to the exterior. 
     
     
       6. The LED light bulb of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second elongated heat sink stems is a continuous body. 
     
     
       7. The LED light bulb of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third elongated heat sink stem extending along the bulb body and open to the exterior; 
 wherein the third heat sink stem is discrete from the first and second heat sink stems and is circumferentially spaced from the first and second heat sink stems along the circumference of the bulb body; and 
 a third plurality of LEDs directly supported by the third heat sink stem; 
 wherein the LED light bulb is configured such that the light emitted from at least one LED of the third plurality of LEDs is emitted outwardly to the exterior between the first and second heat sink stems. 
 
     
     
       8. The LED light bulb of  claim 1 , wherein relative to an axial centerline of the LED light bulb device, the shape includes:
 a lower portion having an increasing diameter from a lower end; 
 an upper portion having a decreasing diameter in extension from the lower portion to an upper end opposite the lower end.